Ground to dictate Dark route to Cheltenham

Won In The Dark could go for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle without another run if the ground at Leopardstown is unsuitable.

Trainer Sabrina Harty has pencilled in the Toshiba Champion Hurdle on January 25 for the five-year-old after he went down by only half-a-length to 2007 Champion Hurdle hero Sublimity in the December Festival Hurdle at the Dublin track on Monday.

“He’s come out of the race fine and he’s been out in the field bucking and kicking,” said Harty.

“We were delighted with the run. It would have suited him had they gone a proper gallop from the start as he stays really well and he has a bit of toe as well. All things considered we were over the moon.

“Hopefully he’ll go for the Irish Champion Hurdle, but it depends on the going. We don’t want to run him on heavy ground as he can’t handle it. If it came up half-decent I suppose we’d probably go there.

“If he didn’t, we’d give him racecourse gallop or something like that to try to get him to Cheltenham in one piece.

“That’s the target. The longer trip and a stronger gallop should suit him. He handles the track well over there and he’s a good traveller.”

Won In The Dark, third in last season’s Triumph Hurdle, is generally a 25-1 shot for the Champion Hurdle.